Collapsible reel



Sept. 11, 1956 R. F. HERR COLLAPSIBLE REEL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 1952 INVENTOR. RICHHRD E 'HZRK BY ZWMQW Fl'ltorney Sept. 11, 1956 R. F. HERR 2,762,576

COLLAPSIBLE REEL Filed Aug. 1, 1952 4 Sheeis-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. RICHRRD E HERR Sept. 11, 1956 R. F. HERR 2,762,576

COLLAPSIBLE REEL Filed Aug. 1, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 RICHHRD E MFR]? Hfforney Sept. 11, 1956 R. F. HERR 2,762,576

COLLAPSIBLE REEL Filed Aug. v1, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet '4 INVENTOR. RICH/7RD E Hem United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE REEL Richard F. Herr, Warren, Ohio, assignor, by rnesne assignments, to The Herr Equipment Corporation, Wan ren, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 1, 1952,Serial No. 302,209

6 Claims. (Cl. 24272) My invention relates to reel apparatus, more particularly to apparatus adapted for use in reeling strip material, and the principal object of my invention is to provide new and improved apparatus of the class described.

The increasing use of coiled strip material by modern industry has resulted in an increasing demand for a cheaper, more fool-proof, and more efficient reel than has been provided by the prior 'art and my invention provides a reel having these qualities.

My improved reel is similar to certain prior art construction in that it is formed of a plurality of arcuate segments which are shiftable relative to one another so as to expand or contract the reel. However, my improved reel is simpler in construction and cheaper to manufacture than prior art reels; it is free of small fragile parts and is therefore more rugged in service and less sus 'ceptible to breakdown; and my improved reel may be easily expanded and contracted by a single motion thus reducing shut-down time between reeling operations.

These and other advantages will become apparent from a study of the following detailed description and from the drawings appended thereto.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application there is shown, for purpose of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume, and in these drawings:

Fi ure 1 is an end elevational view of an embodiment of my improved reel apparatus,

Figure 2 is a sectional view generally corresponding to the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged view similar to Figure l, certain parts being removed or broken away to show internal construction,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing certain parts in another position,

Figure 5 is a sectional view generally corresponding to the line 55 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view gene-rally corresponding to the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

While my invention is particularly suited for coiling purposes, that is, receiving strip material and forming it into a coil, it will be apparent that it may also be used to support a coil during uncoiling operations. Additionally, while reference is made herein to strip inaterial, it is to be understood that my invention is equally well adapted for use with wire and like material.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, my invention comprises an expansible-contractable reel 10 having a hub it which is adapted to be secured to a shaft 12. The hub 11 is provided with a transversely extending portion Ha for a purpose later to be disclosed. Although not shown in the drawings because it forms no part of this invention, means for rotatably supporting the shaft 12 may be provided, and in the event my invention is used for coiling purposes, the shaft 12 may be driven by any means found suitable.

As clearly shown in Figure '2, the hub 11 is welded "ice or otherwise secured to a back plate 13 which is adapted to prevent rearward displacement of a coil wound upon the reel. The back plate 13 additionally provides support for mechanism later to be described. A front or face plate '14, similar to back plate 13, is provided for the reel "10 and-this plate prevents unintentional forward displacement of a coil. However, the face plate 14 differs from the back plate 13 in that it may be removed from the reel to permit a finished coil to be withdrawn therefrom.

Referring particularly to Figure 3, the embodiment chosen to illustrate my invention vprovides a plurality -'of arcuate segments which, in the position of parts shown in Figure 3, provide a generally annular, unbroken, drum-like core upon which the strip material may be wound. The segments are presently shown to be three in number and are shown to comprise a stationary segment 15 and movable segments 16.

The stationary segment 15 is adapted to be welded or otherwise secured to the back plate 13, and opposite ends of the segment 15' provide pivots 17 to which are attached respective segments 16. Members 18 extend radia-lly from the hub 11 and these members brace the segment 15 and transmit the load carried thereby to the hub.

As previously mentioned, the movable segments 16 are pivotally secured to respective ends of the stationary segment 15, and as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the free ends 'of the members 16 are adjacent to each other and are shiftable about their respective pivots toward and away from the axis of the reel. In the present embodiment, and in the disposition of parts shown in Figure 3, the free ends of the segments 16 are spaced apart by a body or wedge member 19 which fills the gap between the segments 16 and maintains the drum-like continuity of the segments.

The wedge member 19 is slotted at 20 to provide spaced-apart legsbetween which are disposed links 21 and 22. Each link 21 has'one end thereof pivoted to member 19 by means of a respective pin 23, and the link 22 has one end thereof pivoted to member 19 by means of a pin 24. Each link 21 has its free end pivotally secured to a respective segment 16 at 25 as shown, and the link 22 has its free endpivotally secured to a bellcrank 26 by means of a .pin 27.

The aforementioned portion 11a of hub 11 is slotted at 28 to receive the bell-crank 26, and the bell-crank is ,pivotally secured within the slot 28 by means of a pin 29. The bell-crank 26 is provided with an off-set handle portion 30 by means of which expansion and contraction of my reel apparatus may be elfected. In the present embodiment, the handle portion 30 is completely contained within the reel so as to preclude injury to the operator in the event he carelessly contacts the rapidly rotating reel.

The wedge member 19 is shiftable toward and away from the axis of the reel in a manner soon to be disclosed, the wedge member being held to such shifting movement by means of a tongue 31 formed thereon which is slideable in a groove '32 formed in the back plate 13 (see Figures 5 and 6).

As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the portion of the hub 11 is recessed for a plate 33, and the plate is presently secured to the hub 11 by cap screws 34 which pass through apertures in the plate and are th'reada'bly secured in the hub. The plate 33 is provided with spaced-apart, laterally extending flanges 35 (see Figure 5) which provide ways between which the wedge member 19 is slideable.

As best shown in Figure l, the face plate 14 is of ringl-ike configuration'and is formed with spaced-apartnotches 48, '49 in its inner periphery. These notches are respec- 3 tively engageable with hook-like lugs 50, 51 each providing a groove and each secured by welding or the like to segments 15, 16 as shown (see especially Figures 2 and 5). As clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and S, the face plate 14, in the expanded position of the reel, will be securely locked thereto by means of its engagement with v the lugs 50, 51.

In the present embodiment, slots 36 are provided, as shown, in the segment 15 and in the wedge member 19 for receiving the starting end of the strip material which is to be wound upon the reel. It will be obvious, however, that any suitable means may be employed to secure the starting end of the strip to the reel.

Slots 37 extend inwardly from the outer peripheries of the back plate 13 and the face plate 14, and shallow slots 38, corresponding with the slots 37, are formed in the segments 15, 16 and in the wedge member 19. The slots 37, 38 are provided so that bands or tie strips may be wound about a completed coil before it is removed from the reel in order to securely hold it together after its removal therefrom.

Means are provided to hold the reel mechanism in expanded relation as shown in Figure 3 or contracted relation as shown in Figure 4, such means presently comprising a spring actuated toggle mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 39. The mechanism 39 comprises 'a pair of members 40, 41 spring-pressed apart by means of a spring 42. The member 41 is pivotally carried by a stud 43 anchored in the back plate 13 (see Figures 2 and 4), and the member 40 is adapted to be pivotally secured to an arm 44 of the bell-crank 26 by means of a pin 45. The member 40 is provided with a tubular extension 46, and the member 41 is provided with a rod-like extension 47 which is slideable within the extension 46. As will be apparent, the extensions 46, 47 provide for telescoping interengagement between the members 40, 41.

Operation of my reel apparatus will now be described, it being recalled that the face plate 14 has been removed in Figures 3 and 4 in the interest of clarity: The reel is shown in its expanded position in Figure 3 and in such position it is ready to receive the strip material that is to be coiled. The starting end of the strip material may be inserted in any one of the slots 36 and the reel may then be rotated so as to wind the strip material thereon.

Reel rotation may be stopped when a coil of sufficient size has been formed thereon and, if desired, the coil may be banded through the slots 37, 38 to hold the coil together. Removal of the completed coil from the reel may now be efiected by shifting the handle portion 30 of bell-crank 26 from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4. Movement of the bell-crank 26 will cause the wedge member 19 to slide along its Ways to the position shown in Figure 4, such movement of the wedge member pulling on the links 21 and thus causing respective segments 16 to shift about their respective pivots to the position shown in Figure 4.

As will be clear, movement of the segments 16 to the position shown in Figure 4 will collapse the drum-like core upon which the coil is wound and will effect disengagement of the lugs 51 from the face plate 14 and thus permit removal of the face plate from the drum and subsequent removal of the completed coil from the reel.

After removal of a completed coil, the reel may again be prepared for winding by placing the face plate 14 over the lugs 50, 51 so that it hangs upon at least one of the lugs and then shifting the bell-crank 26 from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 3. This will restore the parts to the position shown in Figure 3 wherein the reel is expanded and the face plate 14 is securely held in place against the reel by means of the lugs 50, 51.

The spring actuated toggle mechanism 39 is employed primarily to hold the reel in either expanded or contracted relation however, this mechanism-does assist in shifting the reel to its extreme positions of expansion and contraction.

Clearly, since both expansion and contraction of my reel is effected in a postive manner instead of depending upon gravity, springs, or the weight of the coil, there is less likelihood of the mechanism jamming because of an accumulation of dirt, metal particles or the like. Furthermore, and since my construction eliminates the heavily loaded sliding surfaces employed in many prior art devices, my reel apparatus is easily operated even under the most severe operating conditions.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment herein described may be variously changed and modified, wihout departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described, hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiment is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. A reel for strip material comprising an expansiblecontractable drum having a stationary segment, a hub portion fixedly secured to said stationary segment, and two movable segments, each movable segment having one end thereof pivotally secured to said stationary segment and the free ends of said movable segments being adjacent to each other and being shiftable toward and away from the drum axis, body means shiftable toward and away from the drum axis, link means pivotally connecting respective free ends of said movable segments to said body means, and link means in part pivoted to said body means and in part pivoted to said hub portion and shiftable to effect movement of said body means and consequent movement by said movable segments thereby effecting expansion and contraction of said drum.

2. A reel for strip material comprising an expansiblecontractable drum having a stationary segment, a hub portion fixedly secured to said stationary segment, and two movable segments, each movable segment having one end thereof pivotally secured to said stationary segment and the free ends of said movable segments being adjacent to each other and being shiftable toward and away from the drum axis, body means shiftable toward and away from the drum axis, link means pivotally connecting respective free ends of said movable segments to said body means, a bell-crank lever pivotably secured to said hub portion and having one leg linked to said body means and being shiftable about its pivot to effect movement of said body means and consequent movement of said movable segments to expand and contract said drum, and spring-actuated toggle means in part provided by the other leg of said bell-crank lever for yieldably holding said drum in expanded or contracted relation.

3. A reel for tenuous material, comprising a drum split longitudinally whereby it may be radially expanded and contracted respectively to a larger and smaller diameter and including means forming a groove, and a face plate having an aperture and extending radially beyond said drum, the aperture defining marginal surface of said face plate being seated in said groove with surfaces defining said groove engaging opposed sides of said face plate to hold the latter against movement axially of said drum in either direction, said aperture defining marginal surface being released from seating engagement within said groove by contraction of said drum to provide for removal of said face plate from said drum.

4. A reel for tenuous material, comprising a drum split longitudinally whereby it may be radially expanded and contracted respectively to a larger and smaller diameter and having axially extending means forming a hook construction, and a face plate having an aperture and extending radially beyond said drum, the peripheral surface .of said face plate aperture having notch means and said hook construction being seated in said notch means to lock said face plate to rotation with said drum, said hook construction also having portions engaging opposed sides of said face plate to restrain the latter against movement axially of said drum, said hook construction being released from engagement with said face plate by contraction of said drum whereby said face plate may be removed from the latter.

5. A reel for tenuous material, comprising a drum split longitudinally for radial expansion and contraction respectively to a larger and smaller diameter and including means forming a groove adjacent to one end of said drum, a pair of face plates normal to and abutting opposite ends of said drum and each having a surface extending radially beyond said drum whereby the entire width of said drum from one end to the other may be utilized for the support of tenuous material, one of said face plates having an aperture and the defining marginal surface of such aperture being seated in said groove and engaged on opposite sides by surfaces defining said groove to hold said one face plate against movement axially of said drum in either direction, said aperture defining marginal surface being released from seating engagement within said groove by contraction of said drum to provide for removal of said one face plate from said drum and thereby open access to one end of said drum for selectively removing and replacing material.

6. A reel for tenuous material, comprising a rotatable drum split longitudinally for radial expansion and contraction respectively to a larger and smaller diameter, said drum having at least three axially extending hook members each opening in a radially outward direction, and a face plate having an aperture and extending radially beyond the drum, spaced portions of the aperture defining marginal surface of said face plate being seated in respective hook members with surfaces defining the latter engaging opposed sides of said face plate to hold the latter against movement axially of said drum in either direction, said aperture defining marginal surface portions being released from seating engagement within said hook members by contraction of said drum, and said hook members being spaced-apart peripherally of said ClILll'l'l whereby a portion of said aperture defining marginal surface hangs within at least one of said hook members when said drum is contracted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,820,693 Dreisbach Aug. 25, 1931 1,905,178 Kohler Apr. 25, 1933 2,116,057 Yoder May 3, 1938 2,366,081 Wood Dec. 26, 1944 2,535,693 Murray Dec. 26, 1950 

